Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment along with the Head of Streetsmart submitted a joint making a recommendation to secure a sustainable future for the Community Meals service, which is currently provided by the Council. The report provides Cabinet with an update from a proposal contained within the February 2019 Cabinet Budget report ‘Community Meals – Preferred option to transfer operation to new provider currently running similar services elsewhere in the country’ (Cabinet Minute 56 2018/19) refers.

Councillor Penny introduced the joint report noting how the Council had come to be responsible for the service when the initial provider was unable to make it viable. She added that while the service was valuable, the Council was also unable to cover its costs, hence it sought alternative provision. Councillor Brian Ford, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, spoke in favour of the recommendations noting that officers in his portfolio area were consulted and supported the proposals.

Resolved – (1) That the business transfer of the Council’s community meals service to Age UK Wiltshire (AGUKW) be approved.

(2) That the Corporate, Director Communities and Housing in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer) and the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets (s.151 Officer) be authorised to proceed with the next steps to appoint Age UK Wiltshire and to enter into a Business Transfer Agreement.

(3) That the Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer) in consultation with the Corporate Director Communities and Housing and the Corporate Director of Finance and Assets (s.151 Officer) be authorised to complete all necessary documentation to transfer the operation including staff by means of a Business Transfer Agreement on such terms as she considers appropriate to protect the Council’s interests

(4) That the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development be authorised to plan and undertake a TUPE consultation exercise with all relevant staff, recognising that under the proposals staff engaged on those services will transfer to the new operator.

(5) That it be authorised that £50k of one-off resources to be earmarked to fund the costs of any necessary legal, property and other transaction costs to support the conclusion of the negotiations and completion of the relevant contractual documentation.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.

(Councillor Dale Heenan, Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, left the room for the discussion of this item having declared a personal but not prejudicial interest.)